Our School

The merchandising and hospitality management programs             

represent high growth global industries with growing demands

for highly skilled, technologically-oriented employees. The

mission of our school is to provide excellence in educational

programs and research that result in national recognition as a

leader in preparing professionals for careers in the fashion,

hospitality, and home furnishings industries.

 

Merchandising

Merchandising focuses on developing, distributing, and selling

products that undergo continuous change. In many categories,

these products are considered fashion-oriented (i.e. apparel,

textiles, home furnishings, and accessories). However, the

merchandising process is conceptualized to an even wider array

of products that includes toys, books, food, entertainment, travel

and hospitality products. Driving these programs are the tangible

products that consumers purchase and use over extended time.

Industry trends are moving toward total experience management

where "shopper-tainment" or "retail-tainment" become consumer

motivators for purchasing products; brand extension or cross-over

fashion where brands extend to new product categories; and

electronic merchandising where consumers search for information,

service and products via the Internet.

 

Hospitality Management

Hospitality Management focuses on the effective management of resources to offer consumers excellence in service and in products (e.g. food service, lodging, recreation, travel). However, the hospitality industry encompasses an even wider need to meet consumer expectation of auxiliary products that enhance the hospitality experience. Driving this program are the intangible experiential products that consumers purchase (e.g. recreation, travel) and the tangible products with limited or one-time use (a hotel room, a meal, an airline ticket). Industry trends are moving toward total experience management such as "eater-tainment" and total branded experiences (i.e. Disney World, themed restaurants); brand extension merchandising of tangible products; and e-commerce where consumers search for information, service and products via the Internet.